Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Wikileaks: The Cable Guys

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  • Paul Williams, in reply to James George,

    James, I reckon you’d get a little less criticism if you tried to state, up front, what your key point was and then elaborate it. Speaking for myself, I’m disinclined to read a post if I don’t get a sense of where it’s going pretty early on.

    But going back to Danyl's point:

    I can’t say for sure that Wikileaks wouldn’t publish WINZ records, but the goal of their organisation is nothing to do with government privacy as regards the state and the individual citizen, but government privacy as regards the state keeping its activities secrets from the citizens that fund it.

    I understand this and very broadly agree the goal. What troubles me though is that I can’t quite figure out their accountability? I need to review it further however I don’t think an editorial board, regardless of how well qualified, satisfies a reasonable expectation that if wikileaks breached my rights (defined domestically or at international law) there would be an enforceable remedy?

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Parks, in reply to Seriatim,

    I was trying to be cleverly snide

    You managed snide.

    Wellington • Since May 2007 • 1165 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Parks, in reply to Russell Brown,

    It doesn’t matter whether you think one party deserved it and the other didn’t. … I’m sure there are people who think, say, PayPal also deserves a revenge attack for ditching Wikileaks. Would that be a good thing?
    No, it would not. And neither were the original attacks against Wikileaks. You really, really don’t want reciprocal DDoS attacks becoming a commonplace tactic. It’s a very, very bad thing.

    Originally, I was not particularly concerned about this. “Fuck the Swiss bank, and fuck PayPal”, I thought.

    But then, they attacked the website of the Swedish prosecutors. This doesn’t seem like it should be part of the fight for freedom on the internet and freedom of expression in general. So, you have a point. But I still really hate the actions of that Swiss bank and PayPal.

    Young’s starting to look a bit batty.

    Starting? As per my earlier link, he sure is a little batty, and frankly, a bit of a jerk. There’s some good points in amongst that exchange, but overall… whoa nelly.

    Wellington • Since May 2007 • 1165 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Che Tibby,

    . . . there is no “file on citizen X", you’d need to compile that information from a range of highly uncooperative agencies, all of whom are extremely cognizant of the Privacy Act

    Understood, though searching a particular name at Archives NZ’s Archway site can turn up files from a variety of sources, such as military and immigration records, often relating to living individuals. Entering your own name can be edifying. Perhaps reassuringly they’re generally embargoed for 100 years from the “date of closure”.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Ross Mason, in reply to Russell Brown,

    On the other hand, I have access to such information via various laws passed and publicly debated by a democratically elected Parliament.

    Had you SIS file delivered to you yet???

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    As always, the most sensible rational course with these rape allegations is "let's wait and see". Since it sounds mostly like word vs word, the charges probably won't stick. Which is a fucked up thing about date rape, of course, but still no proof of Assange's guilt or innocence.

    It could be as silly and petty as Naomi Wolf suggests, or it could have been quite a serious crime. Hopefully the court system will find out more. Until then, everyone's flailing in the dark.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Seriatim, in reply to Steve Parks,

    Thanks Steve! I had just cheerfully accepted that I'd failed on all counts!

    Wellington • Since Dec 2010 • 57 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Parks, in reply to Seriatim,

    Credit where it's due.

    Wellington • Since May 2007 • 1165 posts Report Reply

  • Manakura, in reply to Ross Mason,

    Had you SIS file delivered to you yet???

    i aked for mine. didnt get. got a lovely letter from Dr Tucker in lieu though. its quite poetic in the mode of baroque-bureacratic. allow me to quote a few lines:

    ...i can neither confirm nor deny
    the existence or non-existence
    of the information
    you have requested...

    on a another note, the speculation about Assange's alleged rape(s) and/or cia conspirationalising is getting a little tiresome. perhaps someone round here with the big stick of moderator privilege would consider setting up a thread specifically for those who wish to indulge in wild conspiracy theories/hysterical rapist accusations? then this thread could continue as a discussion of the content of the cables? with errant comments being deleted or redirected to the appropriate ghetto? Just a suggestion

    Nga mihi nunui ki a ratou for linking to cables and articles of interest, i am enjoying lurking round here for those

    Whaingāroa • Since Nov 2006 • 134 posts Report Reply

  • chris,

    Mawkland • Since Jan 2010 • 1302 posts Report Reply

  • Danyl Mclauchlan,

    I think the most dreeeeeamy thing about him is the way he allegedly fucked a woman while she was sleeping. <swoon>

    This might come as an amazing shock to some PAS commentators but waking up, feeling frisky and trying to initiate sex with your partner is standard behaviour amongst sexually active adults. Maybe Assange did this in an aggressive, coercive way that justifies the involvement of the criminal justice system - and maybe he didn't and the charge is vexatious. In the absence of more facts and with the assumption of innocence this is a silly point to judge him on.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 927 posts Report Reply

  • Danyl Mclauchlan,

    Also, RB bait: the Economist tech writer chats with ‘Anonymous’, the group co-coordinating attacks against web sites on behalf of Wikileaks:

    The power of the group lies in a piece of software called a “low-orbit ion cannon”. Do not be put off by this scrap of jargon; an ion cannon is a fictional weapon used in fictional space epics. But the very real software allows someone to volunteer his own computer and network connection as part of a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack, a coordinated mass of requests that can crash a web server. Traditionally, a DDoS comes from personal computers that have been illegally loaded with software and tethered to a single command server as part of a “botnet”. The low-orbit ion cannon is, essentially, a volunteer botnet that Anonymous uses to take down websites.

    About ten people, called “OPs”, are able to launch an attack. If any OP abuses his power—if he fails to heed what anons call “the hive mind” in IRC conversations— the other OPs can lock him out of the chat. If any anon fails to be inspired by the target, she can remove her own computer from the volunteer botnet, reducing its effect. Anonymous is a 24-hour Athenian democracy, run by a quorum of whoever happens to be awake.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 927 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    This might come as an amazing shock to some PAS commentators but waking up, feeling frisky and trying to initiate sex with your partner is standard behaviour amongst sexually active adults.

    *blink* Yeah, why have I spent the last fifteen years with a man who doesn't do zombie sex? The Ex-File who thought it was sooo sexy to trying fucking me up the arse without all that tiresome consent or conscious participation rubbish was such a catch...

    @Ben:

    It could be as silly and petty as Naomi Wolf suggests, or it could have been quite a serious crime.

    @Danyl:

    In the absence of more facts and with the assumption of innocence this is a silly point to judge him on.

    Perhaps the prosecutors and complainants could be extended a similar courtesy -- the presumption they not hysterical liars and CIA stooges?

    And here's a really insane idea for the benefit of Ms. Wolfe -- perhaps Sweden taking sexual assaults on women seriously is worth praising, not the occasion for witless rape apologist bullshit bingo.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Manakura,

    . . . consider setting up a thread specifically for those who wish to indulge in wild conspiracy theories/hysterical rapist accusations? then this thread could continue as a discussion of the content of the cables? with errant comments being deleted or redirected to the appropriate ghetto?

    Yes please.
    One of those Stuff-style polls, where any takers can make a Xmas wish for either an Assange inflatable love doll, or the voodoo effigy version with needles. It'd save a lot of fluffing.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Jolisa,

    either an Assange inflatable love doll, or the voodoo effigy version with needles.

    Marketing department says you could save money by just having the one product and two optional accessory packs to choose from: the tiny prick kit, or a packet of needles...

    Auckland, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 1472 posts Report Reply

  • Jolisa,

    This might come as an amazing shock to some PAS commentators but waking up, feeling frisky and trying to initiate sex with your partner is standard behaviour amongst sexually active adults.

    But following through without consent or previously agreed-upon contraception/protection isn't.

    Auckland, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 1472 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Danyl Mclauchlan,

    The Ex-File who thought it was sooo sexy to trying fucking me up the arse without all that tiresome consent or conscious participation rubbish was such a catch...

    BTW, Daniel, he was also trying to do that shit without a condom -- which was a little concerning when I found out, a few weeks later, he'd also been barebacking random pick ups throughout our relationship. This might come as a surprise to you, but I don't appreciate being put at risk of an HIV-infection (or some other manky STD) by someone I should have been able to trust.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Elsewhere, Campbell Live runs rape bingo from one of Assange's lawyers untroubled by any context-setting or balance. ( WARNING: Link not safe for up-tight, hysterical, man-hating feminist types)

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Jolisa, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    God, Craig, you could have warned me about that horrifying eau-de-nil tie as well!

    Note to self: the phrase "rape as we know it" is no prettier in an Australian accent.

    Auckland, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 1472 posts Report Reply

  • Danyl Mclauchlan,

    But following through without consent or previously agreed-upon contraception/protection isn't.

    Well duh. You might want to read the sentence I wrote immediately after the one you quoted:

    Maybe Assange did this in an aggressive, coercive way that justifies the involvement of the criminal justice system . . .

    This might come as a surprise to you, but I don't appreciate being put at risk of an HIV-infection (or some other manky STD) by someone I should have been able to trust.

    Yeah, that's a mind-blowing insight.

    perhaps Sweden taking sexual assaults on women seriously is worth praising, not the occasion for witless rape apologist bullshit bingo.

    Well, maybe not THAT seriously, since the charges were instantly thrown out, and then reopened only after Assange embarrassed some of the most powerful people on the planet.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 927 posts Report Reply

  • richard, in reply to Danyl Mclauchlan,

    This might come as an amazing shock to some PAS commentators but waking up, feeling frisky and trying to initiate sex with your partner is standard behaviour amongst sexually active adults.

    Followed by a romantic breakfast for two at the police station.

    Not looking for New Engla… • Since Nov 2006 • 268 posts Report Reply

  • Jolisa, in reply to richard,

    Followed by a romantic breakfast for two at the police station.

    Well, it solves the "your place or mine?" conundrum.

    Auckland, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 1472 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Well, maybe not THAT seriously, since the charges were instantly thrown out, and then reopened only after Assange embarrassed some of the most powerful people on the planet.

    Yeah yeah, the Swedish judiciary are all a pack of CIA stooges. I got the memo.

    Yeah, that's a mind-blowing insight.

    Not half as mind-blowing as the window into the "frisky" heterosexualist lifestyle. I have nothing against straight people, some of my best friends are straight, I love my straight family members, but damn...

    Note to self: the phrase "rape as we know it" is no prettier in an Australian accent.

    And Campbell just sat there like a chastity belt at an orgy. I'm afraid Mr. Campbell and Campbell Live will not be gracing my Twitter feed any longer - got more than enough bullshit in my life without importing more.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Danyl Mclauchlan,

    Well, maybe not THAT seriously, since the charges were instantly thrown out, and then reopened only after Assange embarrassed some of the most powerful people on the planet.

    What happened was that a duty prosecutor laid the rape charge on a Friday night, when the complaints were made. The following morning, a second prosecutor dropped the rape charge but expressed an intention to continue to investigate grounds for a molestation charge.

    The rape investigation was restored by a third prosector after the women got a lawyer to represent them.

    And that was a long time before Cablegate. The investigation wasn't "reopened only after Assange embarrassed some of the most powerful people on the planet"."

    But, hey, just believe what ever suits you.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Che Tibby, in reply to Danyl Mclauchlan,

    yup. the hysteria surrounding this seems to be masking what is normal behaviour.

    i have very clear memories of being "taken advantage of" while sleeping - you know, because you can with guys.

    i awoke and my thought process was "WHAT THE F... oooo... awesome."

    the back of an envelope • Since Nov 2006 • 2042 posts Report Reply

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